Luka Doncic, Lakers

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Luka Doncic of Slovenia reacts during the international basketball friendly match between Slovenia and Germany.

Luka Dončić has never had trouble dazzling with the ball in his hands. But this summer, it’s what he did on the other side of the floor that turned heads — and it came just months after his defense was widely ridiculed during the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff exit.

Playoff Struggles Exposed

The Lakers’ season ended in disappointment with a first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in May, and Dončić bore much of the blame.

Following the Game 5 elimination, Mike Jagacki of LockdownHoops.com called Dončić’s effort “one of the worst defensive performances” he had ever seen in a must-win game.

“Lakers can’t even hide Luka in the zone,” Jagacki wrote on X. “Gets blown by on the wing, poor footwork – wide base, lung steps, no explosive slide, no positive pelvic angle to generate lateral movement. Looking around for his help – the true sign of a bad defender.”

The criticism reflected a growing concern inside and outside the organization: that Dončić’s brilliance on offense was being undermined by glaring lapses on defense, especially in high-pressure postseason situations.

Shedding 31 Pounds

In the weeks that followed, Dončić approached the offseason with a new strategy, as detailed in the Men’s Health cover story in July. By the time EuroBasket tipped off in August, he had shed 31 pounds, transforming his body and his conditioning.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, citing team sources, Lakers coaches noticed the difference immediately. Dončić was splitting double-teams with more quickness, rising higher off the floor, and covering ground more effectively on defense.

That conditioning became the foundation for a stunning defensive turnaround.

EuroBasket Reinvention

Lakers assistant coach Greg St. Jean, who joined Slovenia’s staff during EuroBasket, was among the most vocal about Dončić’s progress. According to ESPN‘s McMenamin, citing league sources, St. Jean compiled a video edit highlighting Dončić’s defensive sequences — from proper placement to vocal communication and willingness to battle on every possession.

St. Jean went so far as to tell Slovenia’s head coach Aleksander Sekulić that Dončić was the team’s best defender.

The numbers supported the claim. Dončić led the tournament in steals with 19 across seven games, nearly three per outing, while guarding multiple positions with energy that contrasted sharply with his postseason struggles.

Carrying a Shorthanded Team

Slovenia, with a roster described by one league source to ESPN‘s McMenamin as “players mostly below NCAA Division I-level talent,” rode Dončić’s leadership to the quarterfinals.

In their matchup with Germany, Dončić erupted for 39 points — the most ever in a EuroBasket quarterfinal — along with 10 rebounds and seven assists. Foul trouble slowed him in the second half, and Slovenia fell just short of the semifinals.

Still, Dončić left the tournament as EuroBasket’s leading scorer at 34.7 points per game, while also ranking first in steals, third in assists, and eighth in rebounds.

Lakers Take Notice

For Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, the EuroBasket performance sent a clear message.

“Luka’s play in EuroBasket made it clear to the entire basketball world that he’s on that incredibly short list of ‘best player on the planet’ candidates, if not at the top,” Pelinka told ESPN‘s McMenamin. “Having both Luka as arguably the best player on the planet and LeBron James… continues to allow us to think carefully about the value of that optionality.”

That “optionality” now hinges on whether Dončić can translate his summer defensive progress to the NBA stage.

From Defensive Liability to Leader?

The same player who was shredded for his playoff defense in May was sliding into position, calling out switches, and generating turnovers against Europe’s best in August.

If Dončić maintains the conditioning that came with losing 31 pounds, the Lakers’ championship aspirations could rise with him.

But the real test won’t come at EuroBasket or in early regular-season games. It will come under the bright lights of April and May, when Dončić must prove that his defensive resurgence can withstand the pressure of the NBA playoffs.

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo